Geranium plant named ‘Noortviolet’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Geranium cinereum , ‘Noortviolet’, that is characterized by its relatively large flowers that are clear pink with conspicuous violet centers and consistent in color throughout the plant, and its greater resistance to soil fungi relative to other  Geranium cinereum  cultivars.

Botanical classification: Geranium cinereum.

Cultivar designation: ‘Noortviolet’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geraniumplant, botanically known as Geranium cinereum ‘Noortviolet’ and will bereferred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Noortviolet’.

‘Noortviolet’ was derived from a breeding program conducted by theInventor in Warmond, The Netherlands. The objectives of the breedingprogram were to develop new cultivars of Geranium cinereum in a range offlower colors that commence bloom early in the season and exhibitdisease resistance, compact plant habits and rain resistance.‘Noortviolet’ arose from a cross made in summer of 2010 between anunnamed and unpatented plant of Geranium cinereum var. subcaulescensseedling from the Inventor's breeding program as the female parent andGeranium cinereum ‘Laurence Flatman’ (not patented) as the male parent.The Inventor selected ‘Noortviolet’ as a single unique plant amongst theseedlings that resulted from the above cross in May of 2012.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by invitro propagation by the Inventor in Otrebusy, Poland in April of 2014.Asexual propagation by in vitro propagation and root cuttings hasdetermined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable andare reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of ‘Noortviolet’. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘Noortviolet’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium.

-   -   1. ‘Noortviolet’ exhibits relatively large flowers that are        clear pink with conspicuous violet centers.    -   2. ‘Noortviolet’ exhibits greater resistance to soil fungi        relative to other Geranium cinereum cultivars.    -   3. ‘Noortviolet’ exhibits flowers that are consistent in color        throughout the plant.

The female parent of ‘Noortviolet’ differs from ‘Noortviolet’ in havingflowers that are smaller in size, solid violet in color and lessconsistent in flower color. The male parent of ‘Noortviolet’, ‘LaurenceFlatman’, differs from ‘Noortviolet’ in having flowers that are lightpink in color with dark pink stripes. ‘Noortviolet’ can also be comparedto the Geranium cinereum cultivar, ‘Thumbling Hearts’ (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 20,096). ‘Thumbing Hearts’ is similar to ‘Noortviolet’ in overallplant shape. ‘Thumbling Hearts’ differs from ‘Noortviolet’ in havingflowers that are smaller in size, lighter pink in color with a slightlysmaller purple center.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Geranium. The photographs weretaken of a one year-old plant of ‘Noortviolet’ as field grown inWarmond, The Netherlands and placed in a container for the photographs.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides an overall view of a plant of‘Noortviolet’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of a flower of‘Noortviolet’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the foliage of‘Noortviolet’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the digitalphotography techniques available, the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description accurately describe the colors of the newGeranium.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of one year-old plants of thenew cultivar as grown outdoors in Warmond, The Netherlands. Thephenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental,climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under allpossible environmental conditions. The color determination is inaccordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal HorticulturalSociety, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinarydictionary significance are used.

-   General characteristics:    -   -   Blooming period.—April to June in The Netherlands.        -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.        -   Plant habit.—Low growing, spreading, and flattened with            flowers held above the foliage.        -   Height and spread.—An average of 15 cm in height and 25 cm            in spread.        -   Cold hardiness.—At least to U.S.D.A. Zone 5.        -   Diseases.—Observed to have some resistance to soil fungi            caused by Botrytis cinerea and Pythium spp.        -   Root description.—Fibrous and fine, primarily N170A and            N170B in color.        -   Root development.—An average of 20 weeks to fully develop            from a rooted cutting in a 9-cm container.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate, about 7 cm per month in spring.        -   Propagation.—In vitro propagation (preferred) and root            cuttings.-   Stem description:    -   -   Stem size.—Average of 4.8 cm in length and 2 mm in width.        -   Stem shape.—Round.        -   Stem color.—144D, stems fade upward to 174B.        -   Stem surface.—Slightly glossy with stems densely covered            with very short soft adpressed hairs; average of 0.3 mm in            length and too small to measure color.        -   Stem strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Internode length.—Average of 3.5 cm.        -   Branching.—Moderately branched with an average of 11 lateral            branches.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Reniform (in outline), palmately deeply cleft to            parted with an average of five lobes.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Hastate (touching to slightly overlapping).        -   Leaf apex.—Broadly acute.        -   Leaf venation.—Palmate, color of upper side 144A, color of            lower side 144B.        -   Leaf margins.—Palmately deeply cleft to parted into an            average of five lobes, margins of lobes incised.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf surface.—Both surfaces are slightly glossy and densely            covered with short and soft adpressed hairs, average of 0.5            mm in length and too small to measure color.        -   Leaf size.—Average of 2.1 cm in length and 2.3 cm in width.        -   Leaf color.—Upper surface young; 137B, lower surface young;            color between 138A and 147B, upper surface mature; color            N137C to N137B, lower surface mature; 147B.        -   Leaf quantity.—Average of 4 leaves per lateral branch.        -   Petioles.—Average of 5.7 cm in length and 1.5 mm in            diameter, surfaces are 144A to 144B in color, surface            puberulent.        -   Stipules.—2 leafy stipules are present at the base of the            leaves, narrow deltoid in shape, narrow acuminate apex,            truncate base, average of 6 mm in length and 3 mm in width,            color; both surfaces are 145B to 145C in color, both            surfaces puberulent.-   Flower description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Single, rotate flowers, arranged in            pairs.        -   Lastingness of flowers.—About 7 days on the plant, sepals            persistent.        -   Flower size.—Average of 1.5 cm in height and 3.4 cm in            diameter.        -   Flower fragrance.—None.        -   Flower number.—Average of 8 flowers and buds per lateral            stem, average of 88 per plant.        -   Flower aspect.—Upright.        -   Flower buds.—Obovate in shape, average of 9 mm in length and            up to 6 mm in diameter, 138A, veined 137B, surface            moderately covered with short soft adpressed hairs 0.5 mm in            length and too small to measure color.        -   Corolla features.—Petals are unfused and arranged in a            rotate form, slightly cupped.        -   Petal number.—5.        -   Petal shape.—Obcordate.        -   Petal color.—When opening and fully open upper surface;            N74D, lower 40% of the petal is between 71A and N79C, veined            N186C, when opening and fully open lower surface; between            N74D and 75A, lower 40% of the petal is 71A, veined N186C.        -   Petal surface.—Upper side very slightly glossy, upper side            more velvety.        -   Petal margins.—Entire except for apex.        -   Petal apex.—Retuse to emarginated.        -   Petal size.—Average of 2 cm in length and 1.7 cm in width.        -   Calyx.—Rotate and cupped, 6 mm in length and 1.6 cm in            diameter.        -   Sepals.—5, ovate in shape, average of 1.1 mm length and 4.5            mm in width, entire margin, mucronate apex, cuneate base,            both surfaces matte, color young and mature upper surface;            143A, color young and mature lower surface; 137C to 137D in            color.        -   Peduncles.—Round in shape, average of 7.6 cm in length and            1.5 mm in diameter, strong, held at a 65° angle to the            lateral branch, color 144B, upper surface (sun exposed)            tinged 174C, surface puberulent.        -   Pedicels.—Round in shape, average of 1.8 mm in length and 1            mm in diameter, strong, one flower straight on top of            peduncle, the second flower held in an average angle of 45°            to lateral branch, color 144A, surface puberulent.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—1 pistil, average of 6 mm in length, 5 stigmas            are decurrent (reflexed) and N186C in color, style is an            average of 4 mm in length and 143A in color, ovary is 144A            in color.        -   Androecium.—10 stamens, anthers are dorsifixed, oblong in            shape and held at a 90° angle on top of filament, 2.5 mm in            length, and 203B to 203C in color, filaments are 6 mm in            length and a color between N186C and 200A, pollen is low in            quantity and 11A in color.        -   Fruit/seeds.—None observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named‘Noortviolet’ as herein illustrated and described.